Here are the event details:

Saturday, August 15th from 5pm-8pm
at two venues in Laguna Beach
1. Joanne Artman Gallery
326 N Coast Hwy
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
2. Tosti Studios
210 N Coast Hwy
Laguna Beach, CA 92651

To access the website for the event,
you can click on this link:
My Hands Have a Voice Tour

You can also visit the event’s Flickr page to view some of the original artwork from the show (although not all pieces will necessarily be on tour). Check those photos out here to view artwork in response to the issue of the 27 million people living in slavery today.

The My Hands Have A Voice art exhibition against human slavery has limited pieces on tour. All artwork is available for sale and goes to Giving Children Hope to help in the fight against the global public health issue of human slavery.

Come. Be Educated. Do Something.

10% from all other artwork sold at the JoAnne Artman Gallery will be donated to Giving Children Hope

Shana found social he(art) after Dawn decided to feature my blog on her site, under a list of several other similar resources. So, I’m absolutely honored to be passing along Shana’s story, as I’m so amazed at her personal strength. It’s rare (and brave) when you see people speaking, using their voice, to shatter silence and break stigma. As you’ll see, what Shana has experienced is tremendously difficult, and I’m hoping that more are inspired to start telling their own stories by the courage she shows here in letting you into her struggles.

“I got started thinking about, and painting about, the issue of Domestic Violence about 20 years ago. When I was 14 years old, my mother was murdered by my brother with a bow and arrow. He is currently serving a life sentence for first-degree intentional homicide and reckless endangerment. We are not, nor will ever (if I can help it) be in contact.

At the time, there was so much going on in my head, that I sought painting as a refuge from the testifying and the publicity and the hurt that came along with that event. I found that I had a lot of healing to do, and I started painting a lot of images of my mother. Working with my hands, images, seemed to help me mourn. So I just created and felt, rather than thought, for many years.

Painting helps me to understand events in my own life so much better than simply thinking them. In fact, I find myself still working out the emotions of this experience, 20 years later. I probably could have been the ‘poster child’ for art therapy, I have always done it, but just didn’t recognize it as such.

When I finally went to an art and design school for my BFA, I was starting to better understand the use that creating and art had in my life. I was also starting to understand its power; both in what it gave me, and in what others saw through my work. I felt that I had something to say, something of my experience. I felt that I had the ability and the means to say something powerful, and so I began to more consciously ‘speak’ with my art.

And along the way, I realized that I was fortunate to have had the release that I found through art. I also recognized that there were others that were still trying to find their own voices, their own freedom in that way. My work is all about a message, a dialogue; I strive to give ‘voice’ to the voiceless. I allow them to have a voice through me, if they need it. This is hard, emotional work for me, I’m not going to lie. But creating a narrative about these experiences is a must, and I will continue to ‘talk’ as long as anyone is willing to listen.

Recently, I felt that it was time for me to start giving back more and learning more, and the Sojourner Truth House happened to be in need of volunteers. Specifically, they were looking to fill a position at our county court house. Now I volunteer my time at the District Attorney’s Office waiting room, as a confidential advocate. There is a new, and unique partnership going on between Sojourner and the DA’s Office in my area. It is a program that is geared towards better helping and protecting victim’s rights. So my job is to answer questions, and protect the victims who have to testify that day.

I feel as if it is the perfect position for me, because I still remember being incredibly scared when I had to testify at my brother’s murder trial. It was one of the scariest moments of my young life, and indeed, I frequently see the victims shaking when I volunteer. So I am there to ease that for them, a little bit. I call for extra support, if it’s needed, and I make sure the defendants get nowhere near the victims/witnesses.

I am able to ease my own childhood fears at this job, as I do with painting. It helps me, just as much, maybe more, than I feel I help anyone else. It’s about listening and learning and crafting a universal voice from my own experiences and those around me. My mother’s violent death made me a stronger, yet more understanding woman, and I’m actually grateful for that. I’m happy to have been given this chance, this ability, and this ‘voice’ (always on loan to whomever needs it).”

You can check out Shana’s blog, where she updates frequently, at http://artinshanaty.blogspot.com/.

A couple of those players happen to be Diana Scimone and her friend Leah Widemer. Diana passed some information along to me via Twitter (@DianaScimone) a couple weeks ago about a new project she’s working on with Leah, an artist located in Orlando, Florida, who’s helping her illustrate a new children’s book aimed at combating human trafficking. So, when I got in touch with Leah, she relayed this story to me:

“I spent a lot of time praying about how I could make my art work benefit others beyond decorating their home or office. When Diana Scimone first approached me about doing the illustrations for her children’s book series, “The Adventures with Paw Paw,” I felt it was an answer to prayer. I worked in watercolor for the three “Paw Paw” books, making slight adjustments to the feel of each book according to the artistic culture of the country Paw Paw was visiting. Diana’s vision was to use the books to raise money for various children’s charities. Then, with the passing of a few years, Diana’s vision became more specific and she zeroed in on preventing child trafficking. Now I am thrilled to be doing the illustrations for a wordless book which is an allegory about the world of child trafficking that teaches children, parents and teachers about the dangers of child trafficking with the goal of ending it.

“Besides my illustration work, I paint portraits (mostly from old photos) and scenes from our travels throughout Italy. I have committed to donating 10% of all proceeds garnered from my paintings to various charities.”

You can find more of Leah and her work, as well as more about Diana Scimone and her organization, Born to Fly, on these sites:
Leah on Twitter: @RoamingArtist
Diana on Twitter: @DianaScimone
Leah’s Blog
Leah on Cafe Press
Born to Fly

If you’re a Twitter fanatic and have a heart for human trafficking, you also might be particularly interested in checking out this post from Diana, which lists a lot of great Twitter users to follow who are working toward ending slavery.

The Lydia Fair is an outreach event sponsored by the Greater Boston Vineyard. With a massive lineup of artists, ranging from photographers to poets and printmakers, Lydia Fair is a must-attend. Started in 2001 as an outlet for women to express their creativity, the Lyida Fair now showcases artwork of all sorts in an effort to raise money and awareness for many different organizations. You can check out more on the history of the Lydia Fair from their site here.

This event takes place at their Cambridge site, 170 Rindge Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02140.

This year, they’re raising money for two organizations: www.love146.org and www.rebuildafrica.org.

The benefit takes place on Saturday evening, April 25, featuring an original theatrical show entitled The Hour, at 6 and 8:30. The gallery is open 12-5 on both Saturday and Sunday, April 26, and we will be showing the documentary, Pray the Devil Back to Hell, about the civil war in Liberia, on Sunday afternoon.

Tickets (on sale as of April 5):
$18 General Seating
$25 Reserved Stage-side Seating
10 for $146 Advanced Group Sales

Mail order: Lydia Fair, 15 Notre Dame Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02140.

Volunteers see the show for free. Crews are needed for gallery hosting, pr, video, lighting, stage, and ushering.

Contact: info@lydiafair.org or 617.252.0005 x103.